Metropolitan Police Federation

Government threatens neighbourhood patrol role

The Government has said that Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNTs) should spend over 80 per cent of their time on the beat - but is now proposing to impose a range of duties on them which threaten to take them off the streets.

The Government's latest vision for policing and criminal justice is revealed in a document entitled 'Building Britain's Future', which lays out its legislative programme for the months remaining before the general election.

This includes a proposed Policing, Crime and Private Security Bill.

The Metropolitan Police Federation is a zealous supporter of neighbourhood policing but is looking askance at the Government's new plans for it.

Under the proposals, SNTs would have to take time out from patrolling to:

DREAM UP new projects and initiatives, such as providing escort services for people who feel unsafe walking the streets alone, setting up and managing e-mail groups to allow householders to swap notes about break-ins they have suffered, and placing counters in shops behind which officers can go so that the public can "drop in and talk to the police"

SIT DOWN with teachers, youth workers and representatives from criminal justice agencies to debate issues around youth crime and anti-social behaviour

PUT THEIR HEADS together with insurance companies and DIY retailers to safeguard householders from burglary by providing them with "advice packs and support"

WORK UP a programme for sharing intelligence with unspecified local agencies and the Probation Service

PREPARE FOR monthly 'beat meetings' with residents, which will presumably cost time spent on gathering facts and figures and getting presentations ready.

A typical London SNT comprises just one sergeant, two constables and three civilian support officers (CSOs) who work 40 hours a week.

Their capacity to handle this proposed additional workload is limited by their training and the duty time available.

If the Government has lined up additional resources to cope with the proposed new responsibilities, all well and good. But the legislative programme makes no mention of this.